Celebrating Seasons of the Goddess – with Contributions from Glenys Livingstone

“Celebrating Seasons of the Goddessrestores the original vision of celebrating cultural and natural landmarks from the perspective of Goddess feminist activism. By taking such categories as time, seasons, nature and the female divine as a point of departure, this book brings modern minds out of patriarchal holiday conventions and invites the reader to join the sobering chorus, led by our 35 authors—writers, researchers, poets, artists, ritualists, photographers and activists from around the world. At an individual level, this book presents a wide range of thealogical expressions in 88 chapters that are self-transcending and metamorphic. …”

… a beautiful book

There are seven chapters contributed by author of PaGaian Cosmology, Glenys Livingstone. One of them is Seasonal Moment Poetry, as below.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Samhain/Deep Autumn

Earth’s tilt leans us further into the Dark – this is the time for conceiving the new …

In this Moment, between the old and the new,

all is possible.

The veil is thin that divides the worlds.

We remember the dead, let go of the past,

conceive the Not-Yet.

We remember that we are More, much More.

We meet to trans-form yet again,

in the Womb of the Dark Shining One,

of our own bodyminds.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Winter Solstice/Yule

At this time when the Dark part of day is longest, as Earth leans us away from Sun to the furthest point,

Darkness reaches Her fullness, and yet …

She turns, and the seed of Light is born.

This is the season for the lighting of candles,

and receiving the Gift of Birth.

The story of Old tells us that on this night,

the Great Mother gives birth

to the Divine Child

– the New Young One within all.

We celebrate Her eternal Cosmogenesis,

and the Miracle of Being.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Imbolc/Early Spring

This is the Season of the waxing Light …

the feast of the Young One

– who is the Urge To Be within All.

The New One born at the Winter Solstice

now grows.

This is the time of celebrating the small self –

each one’s Gaian uniqueness and beauty.

We meet to share the light of inspiration,

to be midwifed,

by She who tends the Flame of Being, deeply

committed to Self, and Who is True.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Spring Equinox/Eostar

This is the time of the Spring Equinox, Earth is poised in balance of dark and light

Warmth and growth are sensed in the Land.

Life bursts forth with new strength.

The Beloved One, Persephone, returns

from the Depths

– as a “Hera”- a courageous One.

Demeter stretches out her arms

to receive and rejoice.

We may leave behind the binds of the past …

and step into the Power of Being

with new Wisdom.

She is alive in us, and we in Her!

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Beltaine/High Spring

Earth tilts us further towards the Sun – the Source of Her pleasure, life and ecstasy

the time when sweet Desire For Life is met

– when the fruiting begins:

the Promise of early Spring exalts in Passion.

This is the celebration of Holy Lust,

Allurement, Aphrodite …

Who holds all things in form,

Who unites the cosmos,

Who brings forth all things,

Who is the Essence of the Dance of Life.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Summer Solstice/Litha

This is the time when the light part of day is longest

Light reaches Her fullness, and yet …

She turns, and the seed of Darkness is born.

This is the time of the rose, blossom and thorn

– for pouring forth the Gift of Being.

The story of Old tells that on this day

Beloved and Lover dissolve into the single Song of

Ecstasy – that moves the worlds.

Self expands in the bliss of Creativity,

Sun ripens in us. We are the Bread of Life –

we celebrate Her deep Communion and Reciprocity.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Lammas/Late Summer

This is the season of the waxing Dark …

the feast of the Old One –who Creates the Space to Be. The Darkness born at Summer Solstice

now grows.This is the time of celebrating the Larger Self,

the dedication of small self

to the Dark Sentience – She to Whom we belong.We meet to make sacred our lives– in the Wisdom of the Compassionate One,

Who receives us in every moment:

to be midwifed,

by She who is the Transformation-of-the-Ages.

photo credit: Glenys Livingstone

Autumn Equinox/Mabon

As Earth is poised in balance of dark & light about to tip our hemisphere into the dark …

… the Season of thanksgiving for our harvest:

the abundance we have reaped,

that we enjoy daily.

And also, the Season of grieving,

for all that has been lost – the Beloved One descends: it may be a Journey to Wisdom.

Glenys Livingstone, Ph.D.

Glenys Livingstone, Ph.D. has over thirty years experience on a Goddess path, which has included diverse spiritualities and a scientific perspective, inner work as well as academic scholarship. Her studies have been in theology, ritual, archaeomythology, social ecology, psychology, sociology and education.

Glenys is the author of PaGaian Cosmology: Re-inventing Earth-based Goddess Religion, which was an outcome of her doctoral work in Social Ecology from the University of Western Sydney. Glenys’ doctoral research was an experiential study of the three phases of the Triple Goddess – Virgin, Mother, Crone – as Creative Cosmological Dynamic, and the embodiment of Her in seasonal ritual as a catalyst for personal and cultural change. More recently, Glenys’ continued ritual practice of the seasonal Wheel of the Year and research, has deepened her identification of this Cosmic-Organic Creative Triplicity with the Triple Spiral engraved by the ancients at Newgrange (Bru na Boinne) in Ireland.

Glenys grew up in country Queensland Australia. Glenys considers herself a student of the Poetry of the Universe – a language expressed in scientific story, mythological metaphor, ancient and contemporary images of integrity, body movement and dance, stillness, chants and songs. By these means, she conducts geo-therapy – ecological reconnection – for herself and with others.

Glenys’ work is grounded in the Old European indigenous religious practice, integrated with evolutionary perspective and Goddess scholarship.

Glenys’ M.A. is in Theology and Philosophy and included education in liturgical practice at the Jesuit School of Theology Berkeley California. She lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney with her beloved Taffy (Robert) Seaborne, who is also a graduate of the School of Social Ecology and rich life experience. Glenys teaches, writes and facilitates the seasonal rituals in her Place with an open community.

OF THE GODDESS

“Celebrating Seasons of the Goddess restores the original vision of celebrating cultural and natural landmarks from the perspective of Goddess feminist activism. By taking such categories as time, seasons, nature and the female divine as a point of departure, this book brings modern minds out of patriarchal holiday conventions and invites the reader to join the sobering chorus, led by our 35 authors—writers, researchers, poets, artists, ritualists, photographers and activists from around the world. At an individual level, this book presents a wide range of thealogical expressions in 88 chapter

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by individual authors do not necessarily reflect those of the staff. Not all contributors necessarily identify as Humanistic or Naturalistic Pagans or share the views expressed elsewhere on this site.

Harrassment and Discrimination Policy

This site is for constructive expression and debate. Comments of a harassing or insulting nature will be deleted. Racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory comments will be deleted.

Supporters

Our Mission

This site is dedicated to amplifying the voices of and providing an online home for Humanistic and Naturalistic Pagans who seek to integrate ritual and meditative practices with a mythic worldview based on the most current and compelling scientific evidence.